Skip navigation - Jump to page content

Inclement Weather Policy

UNDERSTAND

When inclement weather causes transportation problems or locally hazardous conditions, consider personal safety first when evaluating your ability to commute to work.

Leave Use and Compensation

The University's Inclement Weather Policy allows your supervisor to approve requests for time off if weather conditions prevent you from working as scheduled. Leave taken due to inclement weather is charged to vacation leave, personal holiday, accrued compensatory time, or leave without pay according to your job’s collective bargaining agreement or employment program.

Employment Category Leave Options
Overtime-eligible Classified Non-union, Contract Classified and Professional Staff. Partial and full day absences due to inclement weather are charged to:
  • Vacation leave,
  • Personal holiday (full day absence only),
  • Accrued compensatory time, or
  • Leave without pay.
Overtime-exempt (excepted) Classified Non-Union and Contract Classified Staff. Full day absences due to inclement weather are charged to:
  • Vacation leave,
  • Personal holiday (full day absence only),
  • Accrued compensatory time, or
  • Leave without pay.

Part day absences due to inclement weather are charged to:

  • Vacation leave,
  • Accrued compensatory time, or
  • Leave without pay.

If an overtime-exempt employee does not have paid leave she or he can use, the employee may not be placed on leave without pay
Overtime-exempt Professional Staff Overtime-exempt professional staff are responsible for ensuring that all work obligations are met. Full day absences due to inclement weather may be charged to leave, or the individual's work schedule may be flexed with the supervisor's concurrence. At the supervisor's discretion, leave does not have to be charged for approved partial day absences.

Other Work Options

Supervisors can approve requests for employees to temporarily work from home, if doing so allows completion of work assignments.

UW Information Lines

These telephone lines provide up to the minute information about the three University of Washington campus operations during emergencies or severe weather conditions:

206-UWS-INFO (206-897-4636) and toll-free 1-866-897-4636.

ACT

Before inclement weather arrives, talk with your supervisor about your unit’s plans for inclement weather and your leave use options.

If you are unsure about the status of University Operations, call the UW information line.

If you are unable to come to work, notify your supervisor according to your department’s established procedures. When you return to work, complete your department’s leave request form.

EXPLORE

Suspended Operations
Topics